HTC’s successor to the G1 is on the way, but with few details to go on, we’ve compiled a wish list of what could make the sequel to a good phone significantly better.

We’ve included lots of hardware-only feature we want to see, but also on our list are improvements to Android that could be made independently of any phone. But with Android, phone makers can customize and modify the distribution that shows up inside their phones, as long as its done responsibly and in a way that allows future stock updates to still apply. We’d love to see HTC put some innovation into Android for the G2.

As we’ve said several times before, Android will only be as good as the developers making software for it. And so far, due to a lack of market saturation and a number of small to significant obstacles (many of which we’re proposing fixes for here), we haven’t seen that developer community take off. Here’s a list of features we could see on the G2 that could go a long way toward changing that.

• Better Battery Life: For God’s sake. Please. One of the G1’s most crippling shortcomings is its horrific battery life, and the fix will have to go beyond simply squeezing in a more dense Li-ion cell (although that would be nice too). No, the root of the problem needs to be addressed—namely, Android’s power-hogging connection management, and the G1’s inefficient 3G and wi-fi chips. Whether it’s primarily one or the other or a combination of both, HTC and Google need to sit down and get this right, because a mandatory lunchtime charge just to make it through the day under standard use is totally unacceptable.

• A Smooth, Consistent UI That’s Skinnable: One of our major gripes with the G1 (and Android in general) was a lack of consistency across its UI. Sometimes a long-press pulls up a contextual menu, sometimes it selects something, sometimes it does nothing at all. Graphically, the OS itself could use a bit of polish in several places, although the fundamental design vocabulary we’re OK with. Thankfully, Android is flexible and open source, and HTC is totally capable of bringing its own UI improvements to the stack as a whole, or offer them only on HTC phones.

HTC already has experience in re-skinning mobile operating systems, and even though TouchFlo isn’t that great sitting on top of Windows Mobile, it does look pretty, and placed on top of Android’s decidedly more solid and competent foundation, a slightly tweaked graphical UI—that still stays true to Android’s fundamentals—would be cool to see.

• Sexy Hardware: The shots we’ve seen look great and all, but we want an Android phone that’s really going to wow us. We know HTC has it in them—they’ve given us blue balls a-plenty with the Euro-only Touch HD. Let’s see some high-end hardware—be it an ultra-high res screen, a slick form factor, anything—to get the blood pumping a little.

• Better Media Handling (and a F@#&ING 3.5mm Headphone Jack!): Android’s media apps feel half-assed. People now expect to have a fully functioning PMP built into their phone—that is one area where the iPhone truly pushed things forward. And while the G1 will never work natively with iTunes (prove me wrong!), it can do a lot better with their media apps. By adding video playback, for one. And maybe better playlist management, and an overall sexier look. And of course, almost above all else: a 3.5mm headphone jack. DEATH TO DONGLES!

• Ditch the Qwerty Keyboard: My opinion is not mainstream, as many companies and studies have cited general public favorability for physical keyboards over touch—but touch keyboards, done right, are the future. I have yet to play with the soft keypad found in Android’s forthcoming “Cupcake” OS, but if it’s good enough to fluidly handle texting and light emailing, that’s all i need. This will allow for a much slimmer profile for the hardware and a more intuitive (and less schizophrenic) control setup. Word from the source of the leaked G2 images is that the QWERTY has in fact been ditched, but with no side shot, we can’t tell yet for certain. Hope so.

• Front Camera/Video Chatting: Google Talk already can handle video chats easily via its web interface and standalone app; why not bring it to the phone for the first truly mainstream mobile video chatting package, which could be a killer app? For that we’ll need a front camera (something we don’t see clear evidence of in the spy shots).

•Built-in Flash Memory: We are oh so happy that the G1 has an integrated microSD card slot for added storage flexibility, but built-in memory ensures that we don’t lose access to images or music if we need to switch SD cards.

• Add Multiple Google Accounts: Another huge crutch for the Google Accounts integration is the ability to only use one account at a time, and the fact that you have to perform a full phone reset to switch. That’s ridiculous. Not only do we want to use the superior Gmail app interface with our work email (which also uses a Google Account for Domains), but we don’t want to have to wipe everything on our phone to change accounts. A smart interface for living with multiple Google accounts on your phone would solve all of this.

•Give Users the Option of Desktop Sync: Only being able to use Google Contacts was a huge, huge pain when I first set up my G1. I had never used that system, so I had to figure out the best way to get my OS X Address Book contacts into Google and then into my G1. But I’m still wading through dupes and contacts I don’t want on my phone, which I’m too lazy to fix because it’s not intuitive. And if it’s not intuitive for me, God help the average Joe.

• Wireless File/Media Sync: As a corollary to desktop sync, let’s go crazy and make it wireless. This will be another leg-up on you-know-who, and even if it’s just for media and file syncing, the ability to easily pair my phone to my PC via Bluetooth or, better yet, auto-detecting wi-fi to transfer files back and forth would be great, and one less cable on my desk.

• System-Wide Multitouch: We know for a fact it’s possible. And we also know Google is scared of potential litigation from Apple. But until Android adds multitouch as a core service for every app developer to utilize in creative new ways, it won’t be a cutting edge platform.

• Android Market Tune-Ups: There are two major problems with the Android Market right now—there is no easy way to manage updates, and there is no way to browse through the available apps via the web, or any place other than on your phone. As for upgrades, apps can phone home to an upgrade server, but all that usually brings is a notification to go download the updated app manually from the store. And as far as the lack of a Market web interface, this is a problem for a lot of people—the developers who don’t get any exposure, the potential G1 buyers who want to browse what’s available, and, frankly, the press who publicize the apps and don’t want to waste precious time wading through a lousy interface to find apps. These are both Android-specific problems, but let’s hope some improvements here come hand in hand with the G2’s launch.

More:
• Android G2 Photos: Thinner and No Keyboard
• T-Mobile G1 Google Android Phone Review

YouMail has announced Visual Voicemail Plus—a free app for BlackBerry phones like the Pearl, Curve, Bold and Storm. The app works in conjunction with YouMail’s desktop visual voicemail service.

Features:

•Quickly and easily scroll through incoming voicemail messages to see relevant caller information including caller name, time of call, and length of message
•Play voicemails by simply clicking on them
•Easily share and forward voicemails as an email or post to a blog or social networking sites using a simple cut and paste feature
•Delete, archive or save voicemails, forever

Customers subscribing to YouMail’s free transcription services can even opt to read their voicemail when necessary. Who knows, with all of these features you may like it better than a official version. The app is now available for anyone running BlackBerry O/S version 4.3 or later on T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T Wireless phones. [YouMail]

YouMail Announces Free Visual Voicemail BlackBerry Application

Visual Voicemail Plus Offers Advanced Features for Faster and Easier Voicemail Management

IRVINE, CALIF. – February 4, 2008 – YouMail, Inc. (www.youmail.com), the mobile industry’s premier consumer voicemail service, today announced the availability of Visual Voicemail Plus, its free, visual voicemail application for BlackBerry phones including the Pearl, Curve, Bold and Storm. This application provides BlackBerry users with access to un-matched visual voicemail that works in conjunction with YouMail’s desktop visual voicemail service on their mobile phone or online.

“Visual voicemail is only a small portion of what voicemail needs to and can do,” said Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail. “YouMail’s Visual Voicemail Plus allows BlackBerry users to enjoy the speed and convenience of visual voicemail, for free, in addition to having access to all of the other voicemail enhancements in YouMail’s award winning voicemail service.”

YouMail’s time-saving Visual Voicemail Plus, gives BlackBerry clients access to a voicemail inbox right on their mobile phone. Useful features include the ability for consumers to do the following:

Quickly and easily scroll through incoming voicemail messages to see relevant caller information including caller name, time of call, and length of message
Play voicemails by simply clicking on them
Easily share and forward voicemails as an email or post to a blog or social networking sites using a simple cut and paste feature
Delete, archive or save voicemails, forever

In addition, customers that currently use YouMail’s free and premium transcription services will also be able to read their voicemails directly from the new application, saving even more time. This feature lets users, have anytime access to voicemail, even in situations where playing or listening to a voicemail is not an option, such as when in a meeting. Further, BlackBerry customers also have access to additional YouMail features, including access to their voicemail online when they’re near a desktop computer, personalized greetings for every caller, the YouMail greetings community, and community-based or personalized voicemail filtering.

“We’re extremely pleased about where we’ve come in terms of pushing the limits of what users can get out of visual voicemail and are happy to offer an unparalleled visual voicemail experience to customers at no cost,” said Quilici. “This application streamlines the visual voicemail experience for all BlackBerry phone users, and it a valuable tool for anyone who wants to get through their voicemails more quickly and efficiently.”

YouMail’s Visual Voicemail Plus application for BlackBerry phones will initially be available to customers running BlackBerry O/S version 4.3 or later on T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T Wireless phones. To access YouMail’s free, downloadable, native application, users can go to http://m.youmail.com on a BlackBerry device or visit http://www.youmail.com/mobile online. BlackBerry users who are not existing YouMail customers can then sign up using their BlackBerry device and activate YouMail directly from the visual voicemail application.

YouMail’s BlackBerry application was built entirely on top of its open API. The API allows developers to write their own applications that extend YouMail’s offerings to handset applications, browser plug ins, widgets, and more. Further, the API provides revenue opportunities for developers through YouMail’s affiliate program. This API is a first among existing voicemail applications and takes YouMail from a stand-alone service to a mobile platform. The open API is now in limited beta and to participate in the limited beta program, developers can contact YouMail with suggested application project details at api@youmail.com.

About YouMail
YouMail provides a free, completely customizable cell phone voicemail service that makes its users communications easier and more productive. YouMail users can choose whether to retrieve their voicemail online, in e-mail, via visual voicemail or transcription on their mobile phone, or by calling in; whether to listen to or read their messages; how they are notified about new voicemail; which callers get which greetings and when; and even which callers can leave voicemail. YouMail provides an ad-supported free service, as well as premium services, including voice to text transcription.

The BlackBerry Storm is no longer left out of the free streaming web radio crowd—a Storm-tuned Slacker app can now be yours.

With it comes nice scrolling touch lists of album art, along with all the good Slacker goodness you’ve come to expect. It’s available now by heading to slacker.com with your Storm.

Slacker Announces Availability of Mobile Radio Application for the BlackBerry Storm Smartphone

Free Slacker Personal Radio Mobile Application Features Touch Screen Navigation and Station Caching

SAN DIEGO, CA – February 4, 2009 – Slacker, Inc. today announced the availability of the free Slacker Mobile application for the BlackBerry® Storm smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM). BlackBerry Storm users* can now listen to their favorite Slacker radio stations anywhere they go, whether they are connected to a wireless network or not – a Slacker Mobile feature exclusive to BlackBerry® smartphones. The application, which is optimized for the handset’s unique touch screen, is available as a free download by visiting Slacker.com from your BlackBerry Storm.

The Slacker Mobile application provides BlackBerry Storm smartphone users in the U.S. with a personalized music discovery and listening experience, pulling from over 100 expert-programmed Slacker stations, over 10,000 artist stations or a nearly unlimited number of the listener’s own custom-created stations. Features include vertical as well as horizontal modes, an intuitive interface optimized for touch operation, as well as “peek ahead”, allowing the listener to see a preview of the next artist and album in their stations’ rotation.

Slacker station caching, an exclusive feature for BlackBerry smartphones, enables listeners to store favorite stations on a memory card, allowing the Slacker Mobile application to play without a network connection, reducing battery life consumption by up to 5 times that of a streaming playback, and enhancing application performance. In addition, BlackBerry smartphone enthusiasts can enjoy Slacker Personal Radio while doing other tasks such as emailing, instant messaging or web browsing.

The Slacker application for the BlackBerry Storm smartphone includes detailed artist bios and album reviews for each song, providing the ultimate resource for music discovery. The Slacker Mobile application works with the free Slacker Basic Radio service, along with Slacker Radio Plus and Slacker Premium Radio subscription offerings.

“The Slacker Mobile application for the BlackBerry Storm offers an engaging and intuitive mobile listening experience that takes full advantage of its unique features,” said Dennis Mudd, CEO of Slacker. “With an intuitive touch screen interface as well as station caching, BlackBerry Storm owners can now easily enjoy their favorite music wherever they go.”

Slacker Personal Radio, available online at www.Slacker.com, enables listeners to personalize over 100 professionally programmed stations or create, edit and share their own Personal Radio stations. Slacker listeners also have easy access to artist profiles, album reviews and cover art on the web, with the Slacker G2 portable and now on the BlackBerry Storm smartphone.

Slacker Mobile for the BlackBerry Storm offers:
• Free music library featuring millions of songs
• Optimized for Storm Touch Screen operation
• Vertical and Horizontal modes
• High-quality stereo playback from cached stations and all streaming wireless connections
• Over 100 professionally programmed genre stations
• Create custom artist stations
• Station caching for music playback anywhere, greatly improved battery life and accelerated application performance
• Multi-tasking – listen to music while doing email
• View artist biographies and photos
• View album art and reviews
• “Peek Ahead” artist and album preview
• Pause and skip songs
• Rate songs as favorites
• Ban songs and artists you don’t like

Pricing and Availability
The Slacker Personal Radio Mobile application for the BlackBerry Storm smartphone is available immediately as a free download by visiting Slacker.com from your BlackBerry web browser or visit www.slacker.com/blackberry for more details.

The guys at Boy Genius have obtained what appears to be an internal End-of-Life (EOL) list from Sprint, and it sheds some light on when we can expect some hot handsets—including the Palm Pre.

According to the document, the Pre has a target in-stock date of 3/15, so it is possible that it will drop right around that time. It also notes that the Pre will be replacing the Palm 755P which has a projected EOL in late May. The March date seems a bit early (the May date is more likely to be honest), but if it is true, that would give it a big jump on the next gen iPhone. Check out BGR for the rest of the EOL list. [BGR]

As Acer’s entry into the smartphone market approaches, details of handsets are beginning to leak. BGR has pictures of one: a touchscreen QWERTY phone with a decidedly novel approach to pop-out keyboarding.

BGR’s sources didn’t have much to say about the device, except the easily-guessable fact that it would run either Windows Mobile or Android (you can imagine which one we’re hoping for). The keypad, as pictured, looks kind of bizarre. A portrait-mode QWERTY may be all we’re seeing here, but if Acer has managed a swivel system by which the keyboard can work in portrait and landscape modes, the form-factor could be an instant winner.

The tipster also claimed the Acer would display an iPhone competitor alongside this handset at MWC on the 16th, which—assuming the conventions of the last few years hold—just means that they’ve got a full-touchscreen handset. [BGR]

We all know that Japan is nuts about cellphones, having browsed the internet via mobiles since we were but gleams in 3G’s eye. But the phenomenon is about more than the web—it’s about email.

NPR recently aired an interesting program exploring Japan’s use of the cellphone. In it, Satoshi Tanaka, a cellphone content/portal guru, mentioned a pretty fundamental difference between Japan and America regarding email:

When you say email to today’s young people, they would never think of emails you do on the computer. To them, cell phone emails are emails. There are even some users who would say, oh, I didn’t know you could do email on a computer, too.

Even with the rise of QWERTY smartphones, I think most of us view cellphone email as secondary, or at least part of an important balance with our computer-based email. But faced with IT lockdown at the workplace, I could definitely see cellphones becoming the main source for both personal email and web. [NPR and Getty Images Thanks Ponies!]